Cooling via Airpumps in a Fridge?

A

AMCRambler

Member
I am thinking, as summer comes and cooling the bubble buckets becomes an issue...My plan is to put my air pumps in a mini-fridge to cool down that air into the buckets. I am also thinking of putting 3-4 airstones per 5 gal bucket to really kick up the air and keep out the algi and bugs.
Thoughts?
Possible complications?
 
Commander Strax

Commander Strax

Well-Known Member
will the fridge be in the same room the the pumps used to be in?

Is the point to cool the pumps or the room? Cuz the fridge will put the heat in the room.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
Insulate your shit. whether it's to build an igloo cooler or two or try to insulate your current buckets.
Personally I have much faith/time/money invested in igloos of various sizes and configurations.
Drop in a chunk of ice and your temps will hold for days.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
I got bad memories of a AMC rambler station wagon, 60s model. Was my moms. I got in the back seat and my foot went thru the floorboard. I think she had it fixed with a piece of plywood though so all was good. Push button gear shifting and all !
 
SnaFuu

SnaFuu

Well-Known Member
Can you run a tube off your pumps intake to your fridge? Ill grab winter air that way and it'll cool my buckets real nice
 
Frosty125

Frosty125

Member
i've actually tried doing something like this it doesn't work. theres a couple things that you can do. bring the temp of ure room down to help cool your buckets, or connect your buckets and get a chiller, or get a larger container(s) to use as a reservoir(s) because they are easier to keep cool
 
bomb hills

bomb hills

Well-Known Member
Insulating the res will help. I made a chiller out of a mini fridge and a stainless steel wart chiller (it's a 1/4in tube that has been coiled). The ss coil goes in the fridge, a pump sits next to the res and pulls water out of the res and pushes water through the coil and back into the res. This keeps my water temps at 68 or lower.
 
A

AMCRambler

Member
dbkick said:
I got bad memories of a AMC rambler station wagon, 60s model. Was my moms. I got in the back seat and my foot went thru the floorboard. I think she had it fixed with a piece of plywood though so all was good. Push button gear shifting and all !
Click to expand...
I have to defend the AMC Ramblers.
 
DCobeen

DCobeen

Well-Known Member
buy a inline water cooler will keep you res and buckets cool. $125 or so. I dont cool my AIS res. When i do get the big boy setup ill buy the inline water cooler.
 
A

AMCRambler

Member
I am doing well on temps so far, but I worry as summer comes and it gets hot, I will have res temp problems. What are the my issues if the temps get out of the optimal range? Obviously decreased nutrient absorption.
 
3squared

3squared

Well-Known Member
I veg in buckets then transfer them to marine coolers for flower. A marine cooler keeps ice for 6 days so my water temps stay within 5 degrees from fill to flush.
 
B

BaFaKer

Member
Honestly, I use the fridge setup and it works great. Place your air pumps inside of fridge and drill holes for your air lines out the side of your mini fridge. Don't worry about the small air gap from electrical wires cause it helps bring in outside air Into the fridge. Place a timer to turn fridge on/off every 30 minutes. Depending on your fridge. My settings is on medium. Fridge does cause a slight rise in room temps, about 5 to 10 degrees but water temps stay comfy at about 65. Anyone's bias opinion has not tried this method, but it works great. $50 instant water chiller using cold air. This post is old so whoever reads and uses this setup. Your welcome. Some of the posts above are retarded and opinionated without experience.
 
A

Atomizer

Well-Known Member
A chiller would be cheaper in the long run. The combination of 5-10 deg higher air temps, the gap in the fridge door and heating of the air in the tubing en route to the res are all working against you. The fridge setting doesnt make a difference as the compressor is either on or off, the thermostat dictates when it turns on/off.
 
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